U-BOAT TONNAGE

Evening Star, Issue 23527, 16 March 1940, Page 13

U-BOAT TONNAGE

GERMANY'S HUGE INCREASE FAR-FLURG SURMARIRE CAMPAIGR FORECAST NEW YORK, March 15. (Received March 16, at 12.10 p.m.) The Washington correspondent of the New York ‘ Times ’ says information indicates nearly a 150 per cent, increase in German submarine strength since the outbreak of war, being from 33,000 tons on October I to 80,000* at present, including 30 of 1,300 tons, capable of operating thousands of miles from their bases. It is believed that this forecasts a far-flung submarine campaign, probably including the Western Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It may have been one of the reasons for Mr Welles’s mission. ANOTHER SCUTTLING GERMAN MERCHANTMAN EVADES CAPTURE (British Official. Wireless.) RUGBY, March 15. (Received March 16, at 11.47 a.m.) Another German merchantman, the La Coruna (7,414 tons), was scuttled and set on fire on Wednesday when intercepted by a British warship in northern waters. Her 10 officers and crew of 50 took to the boats and were picked up by a British warship. GERMAN RAIDERS 11 SUPERIORITY " OVER UNARMED SHIPS ROME, March 15. (Received March 16, at-10.55 a.m.) ■ Affirming that the German air force had clearly shown its superiority against British merchantmen in the North Sea, General Pricolo, Under-Sec-retary for Air, told the Chamber of Fasci and Corporations that the rate of Italy’s warplane production had never • been more rapid. It is being almost doubled in the next six months. SHUT ACROSS HOWS NORWEGIAN VESSEL IN SYDNEY SYDNEY, March 15. (Received March 16, at 12.50 a.m.) Firing its first shot in the war, a Sydney coastal fortress to-day halted a Norwegian freighter which had just left port oblivious of the signals requiring her to stop. The shot was fired across her bows. The vessel immediately stopped and re-entered the harbour, where officers examined the passport and papers of a member of the crew, after which the vessel was allowed to leave. THE DOVER PATROL NAVAL RATINGS DECORATED DY KING (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 15. (Received March 10, at 10 a.m.) Six naval ratings were decorated by the King yesterday during his visit to the Dover patrol. They included two seamen serving in the same trawler and one seaman who has now returned to civil life as a railwayman. THE ATHENIA SINKING LIABILITY FDR LOSSES NEW YORK, March 14. Donaldson Atlantic Lines Ltd. have petitioned the Federal Court for an order freeing'the company from liability for the loss of life and property in the Athenia sinking, or the limitation of that liability to 200,000 dollars. The claims at present total 732,000 dollars. GERMAN SUBMARINES REPORTED TD HAVE REFUELLED IN THE GALAPAGOS BALBOA, March 15. (Received March 16, at 11.47 a.m.) Despite scepticality, the authorities are investigating a report that two German submarines fuelled at Sau Salvador (Galapagos). ' MORE BUTTER ALLOWED BRITISH RATIONING SCHEME (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 15. (Received March 16, at 11.47 a.m.; The Ministry of Food announces that the ration allowance for: butter will be raised from 4oz to Boz weekly as from March 25. This increase has been pos-, sible owing to the, favourable supply situation now obtaining. Catering establishments will also be permitted to serve double the former ration of butter with meals.